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VIDEO: Police fail to make arrests in London cyclist group punch-up despite numberplate and video evidence

Group of men in car punch cyclist and squirt liquid into his face

Police have failed to make any arrests in the case of an unprovoked attack on a group of London cyclists - despite video evidence showing the numberplate of a car containing men who squirted liquid into the cyclists’ faces and punched them.

The group of cyclists, including Sam Khamtonwong, were on a ride from Look Mum No Hands in east London, through Bermonsdsey on Wednesday.

Sam told London24 that the incident involved a silver Ford Focus registration V715 DTF.

 

He said: “We were halfway along St James’s Rd near Old Kent Rd at around 11pm when the attack happened.

“I started to overtake a few bikes down as the road was clear to do so.

“I double checked by looking back and I noticed the car was behind me so I politely moved into the gap on my left so I can let the car overtake.

“But he did overtake by rudely using a foul language saying ‘Get off the f***ing road’.

“I don’t know what was said to him as I was a bit far back to hear until I got closer and hearing the driver saying ‘do you want me come over there punch your face?’

“Obviously they were looking for some trouble without any reason.”

The three men in the car then got out and began punching the nearest cyclist, then turned to the rest of the group and began swinging more punches. They then squirted a liquid, thought to be de-icer, into the face of one cyclist.

A spokesman for the Met said: “Detectives from Southwark CID are investigating and are making enquiries to contact the registered owner of the vehicle that is believed to have been involved in the incident.

“Enquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this stage.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or with information should contact DC Pilar Marroquin-Grisales in Southwark CID via 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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36 comments

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ironmancole | 9 years ago
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If police fail to act it will become a prime candidate for vigilante action. The reg is there for all to see, it can be found and it can be burnt out.

Sure two wrongs don't make a right but something has to give and parliament couldn't give a monkeys so what do they expect?

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IanW1968 | 9 years ago
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When someone drove into my mate it took them 3 months(and repeated calls) to speak to the car owner who in the end 11 months later got 3 points and £30 for driving without due care and attention despite four witness giving statements the driver appeared to drive the car purposly into the cyclist on a wide open unobstructed road.  39

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Critchio | 9 years ago
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The headline is definitely anti-police without justification. Its more a case of the investigation continuing. I'm not sure what game some of the road.cc article authors are playing. Its amateurish. There are tons of grammatical and spelling errors in many articles and then to finish it off nicely there are daft or inappropriate headlines.

Road.cc, some of your articles are becoming tiresome, incitive and sloppy. Improve your game.

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Nevis the cat | 9 years ago
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Road CC - the Daily Mail for cyclists.

The plod may well be taking their time for a number of reasons - especially if a noxious substance was sprayed - it could fall under the firearms act and that would a very serious offence. It may also be that matey boy is already known. Another Duggan is not what the Met needs so softly softly.

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Huw Watkins replied to Nevis the cat | 9 years ago
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I'm sorry but these do rather sound like the words of an apologist.

If I remember correctly, this is the same part of London where a cyclist had a run in with a moped rider earlier in the year.

The police took no action and said that his video footage of the incident was of no use and could not be used in an investigation

(and behold, I've just checked and it is http://road.cc/content/news/110075-police-take-no-action-against-moped-r... )

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northstar | 9 years ago
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Not surprised, they've proven in the past they seem to have trouble finding drivers who have appear to have attacked people before when it's pretty easy.

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Angelfishsolo | 9 years ago
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This is a very slanted article. Whatever the Police do its wrong. If they had chased down the driver plenty would have said they should be looking for terrorists etc. As a few have pointed out the car might have been stolen or misregistered. Also there is nothing saying the victims have not been kept upto date.

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to Angelfishsolo | 9 years ago
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Angelfishsolo wrote:

If they had chased down the driver plenty would have said they should be looking for terrorists etc.

That's a bit of an all-purpose generic argument though, isn't it? One can always invent a hypothetical group of people who would criticise some other course of action, but does that mean that nobody can ever be criticised for anything?

I'm happy to wait-and-see with this case (it seems a good general rule that nothing ever happens as fast as it seems from the outside that it should - there are usually complications of some kind or other), but post-Rotherham, can one really just assume as a given that all police forces do their job assiduously?

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bikebot | 9 years ago
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Well I've had both experiences with the Police. In some past incidents involving repeated bike theft attempts, they were fantastic, but it was the CPS that let us all down after the culprits were caught.

I've only had one serious confrontation whilst riding in London, which was around a decade ago. That was an assault involving a car full of very drunk passengers. Not completely dissimilar to this video, they were very obviously looking for a fight and I received minor injuries from it. I actually walked to the Police station afterwards as it was nearby, gave a full statement and the interviewing officer took it seriously and was making calls there and then to get a car out (I had their license plate, he matched the car description from the database and got the drivers address straight away).

Then I went home and waited. And waited. Three sodding weeks later what sounded like a very young PC phoned me and told me there was very little they could do as the driver had denied any knowledge of the event and claimed someone must have cloned his plates. He actually sounded quite embarrassed about the whole thing, and it was fairly obvious he'd been left to explain someone elses failure.

As with these chaps, I now almost always ride with a camera. The fact is without video evidence or good witnesses, the law offers you almost no protection on the road.

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pakennedy replied to bikebot | 8 years ago
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Quince | 9 years ago
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I should really stop watching these. I think it'd be better for my health...

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Gourmet Shot | 9 years ago
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In fairness to plod I had a similar (ish) incident with 2 morons shouting abuse and throwing cans of pop at me. I stopped pointed at their Reg plate and later reported to the Police via online website.

Police rang an hour later and called round to visit the next day. Got the full story and promptly went to visit the registered driver of the car (sister of one of morons). All were warned and a just a bit shocked to see the police turn up knocking.

Appreciate no action taken ultimately as such but the police did take it seriously and were very quick about the whole thing, even calling back later to update me and what was said.

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srchar | 9 years ago
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There are two police officers in my family, both of whom work for the Met. They work on counter-terrorism and take their jobs very seriously; they constantly bemoan the f*ckwittery of the average bobby that you or I will bump into on the streets - the type who'll investigate crimes like this one.

I'm shocked to hear about the PCSO attempting theft of handlebars - are you sure the person was a genuine PCSO and not just someone wearing a uniform? Very worrying either way.

The constant bullsh*t that people who cycle have to put up with in London (I've had two bikes nicked this year and not a commute goes by without someone calling me a c*nt or a motherf*cker for no good reason) makes me genuinely question why I live here  2

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Eebijeebi replied to srchar | 9 years ago
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srchar wrote:

There are two police officers in my family, both of whom work for the Met. They work on counter-terrorism and take their jobs very seriously; they constantly bemoan the f*ckwittery of the average bobby that you or I will bump into on the streets - the type who'll investigate crimes like this one.

I'm shocked to hear about the PCSO attempting theft of handlebars - are you sure the person was a genuine PCSO and not just someone wearing a uniform? Very worrying either way.

The constant bullsh*t that people who cycle have to put up with in London (I've had two bikes nicked this year and not a commute goes by without someone calling me a c*nt or a motherf*cker for no good reason) makes me genuinely question why I live here  2

Most jobs in counter terrorism don't involve any involvement with the public, let alone actual investigation. Most of the f**kwittery (of which they once would have been) would question the brilliance of these elitists who forgot where they started out. It works both ways.

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Nick T replied to srchar | 9 years ago
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srchar wrote:

not a commute goes by without someone calling me a c*nt or a motherf*cker for no good reason

Honestly?

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Dnnnnnn replied to Nick T | 9 years ago
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Nick T wrote:
srchar wrote:

not a commute goes by without someone calling me a c*nt or a motherf*cker for no good reason

Honestly?

I was also struck by that. I've been riding around Glasgow and inner London for nearly 20 years it's far from my experience.

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turboprannet replied to Nick T | 9 years ago
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Nick T wrote:
srchar wrote:

not a commute goes by without someone calling me a c*nt or a motherf*cker for no good reason

Honestly?

There's more to this than meets the eye. Maybe srchar really is a c*nt and/or a motherf*cker and they're just not telling us.

 23

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Awavey replied to turboprannet | 9 years ago
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well I wouldnt say it happened to me every commute, but its still fairly regular occurence for people to just randomly hurl abuse at me simply for being a cyclist (I accept people lose their rag more if you annoy them to begin with), in a way that doesnt happen say when Im just walking around as a pedestrian. Had one on Friday, car was heading opposite direction to me and the driver just lent out his window and shouted "f*****g cyclist b***h".  7

basically these people are just bullies so they pick easy targets dont they.

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drfabulous0 replied to srchar | 9 years ago
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srchar wrote:

I'm shocked to hear about the PCSO attempting theft of handlebars - are you sure the person was a genuine PCSO and not just someone wearing a uniform? Very worrying either way.

No I think that was fairly likely, I normally only see them in pairs. Still very strange.

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Eebijeebi | 9 years ago
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What if the car was stolen, not registered to the correct address, if the register owner is obviously not one of the occupants?
What if the police are taking statements and building a case to be able to effectively interview anyone they arrest.
Just slating them of the strength of no one being arrested yet is lame.

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downfader replied to Eebijeebi | 9 years ago
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Eebijeebi wrote:

What if the car was stolen, not registered to the correct address, if the register owner is obviously not one of the occupants?
What if the police are taking statements and building a case to be able to effectively interview anyone they arrest.
Just slating them of the strength of no one being arrested yet is lame.

That may well be the case but they have to inform the victims. Nobody is saying they're just sat there, we all accept they have a difficult and very busy job

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Eebijeebi replied to downfader | 9 years ago
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downfader wrote:
Eebijeebi wrote:

What if the car was stolen, not registered to the correct address, if the register owner is obviously not one of the occupants?
What if the police are taking statements and building a case to be able to effectively interview anyone they arrest.
Just slating them of the strength of no one being arrested yet is lame.

That may well be the case but they have to inform the victims. Nobody is saying they're just sat there, we all accept they have a difficult and very busy job

Does anything say that the victims are not fully informed?
Plenty of comments berating the police.
Note the headline from the original report (from which this article appears to be derived from with no direct contact to the victims). What additional information is there (maybe I've missed it) that leads roadcc to start with 'Police fail'.
So bias it's astonishing.

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drfabulous0 | 9 years ago
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I did but they were just rude to me and said no crime had been committed.

When I approached I initially assumed that he had interrupted someone else messing with the bike as the stem plate was removed, it was the running away that incriminated him.

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jacknorell | 9 years ago
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This is why you should always carry a d-lock in an accessible way.

Completely justified response to use one for defensive purposes.

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Nevans replied to jacknorell | 9 years ago
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jacknorell wrote:

This is why you should always carry a d-lock in an accessible way. Completely justified response to use one for defensive purposes.

My D-Lock is the ideal way to take a wing mirror off if the driver is aggressive.

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oozaveared replied to Nevans | 9 years ago
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Nevans wrote:
jacknorell wrote:

This is why you should always carry a d-lock in an accessible way. Completely justified response to use one for defensive purposes.

My D-Lock is the ideal way to take a wing mirror off if the driver is aggressive.

That's the trouble with lots of people having videos though isn't it? You never know....

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drfabulous0 | 9 years ago
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That would be Wednesday before last, quite right that the police should be called out for their obvious lack of interest in performing their duties.

They really need to get their act together, yesterday I caught a uniformed PCSO attempting to steal the handlebars and shifters from my bike, when I confronted him he literally legged it. Policing in this country is an embarrassment.

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jacknorell replied to drfabulous0 | 9 years ago
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drfabulous0 wrote:

That would be Wednesday before last, quite right that the police should be called out for their obvious lack of interest in performing their duties.

They really need to get their act together, yesterday I caught a uniformed PCSO attempting to steal the handlebars and shifters from my bike, when I confronted him he literally legged it. Policing in this country is an embarrassment.

Well, I hope you reported it. Should have been quite interesting, that!

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3wheelsgood replied to drfabulous0 | 9 years ago
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drfabulous0 wrote:

That would be Wednesday before last, quite right that the police should be called out for their obvious lack of interest in performing their duties.

They really need to get their act together, yesterday I caught a uniformed PCSO attempting to steal the handlebars and shifters from my bike, when I confronted him he literally legged it. Policing in this country is an embarrassment.

Police Criminal Serial Opportunist...they wear uniforms and are therefore easy to identify - why are they not being arrested and removed from the streets?
Report this social scourge and make our planet a safer and friendlier place for the propertied classes!!!!  39

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drfabulous0 | 9 years ago
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Really? Don't you think a week is plenty long enough for them to look up a registration number and pay the owner a visit?

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